Environmental Impact

Bisphenol A

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a component of polycarbonate plastic (identifiable by the #7 in the recycling triangle), the clear, rigid variety of plastic from which many baby bottles are made, and has been shown to mimic the hormone estrogen, alters reproductive organs and functions in animal studies, and may also enhance the risk of developing Type II diabetes.

A 1999 study of polycarbonate baby bottles published in the Japanese Journal of Health Sciences found that new bottles, washed gently before using, leached 3.5 ppb of BPA into water, while extremely worn and scratched bottles leached levels of BPA as high as 28 ppb. And several scientific studies have reported that BPA can leach from plastic when heated, exposed to acidic solutions or after prolonged use.

Though human health affects of BPA have been debated, in April 2008, the National Toxicology Program at the Centers for Health reviewed all available literature on BPA and concluded that there is "some concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures." As a result of their finding, major bottle manufacturers, including Playtex, pledged to stop using polycarbonate in baby bottles, while Wal-Mart and Toys 'R Us are phasing out polycarbonate baby bottles and baby feeding products so they'll be off store shelves by the end of 2008. The Canadian government is also trying to ban the import and sale of baby bottles containing the chemical.

Rubber Nipples

Many bottle nipples are made of rubber, which may contain low levels of contaminants known as nitrosamines, which cause cancer in lab animals. Nitrosamines can be ingested through bottle nipples; however it is unknown whether this kind of exposure increases the risk of cancer. Because of cancer concerns, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the amount of nitrosamines allowable in rubber nipples, but low levels are still permissible.